Joystiq goes to i am 8-bit

by Kevin Kelly { Aug 15th 2008 at 3:30PM }

Last night was the opening night shindig for the latest i am 8-bit show, and it was by far their biggest event yet. We arrived early as part of a press event to mill around and quietly take photos, but by 9PM the place was packed with people checking out the art, listening to the whomping sounds of Computer Jay, DJ R-Rated, and Leeni (check her out in the Pac-Man dress, along with her 8-bit tattoo). There was a massive line of people outside waiting to get in, and it had turned into the hottest ticket on Hollywood Blvd. Which, yes, is actually saying something.

They had turned the entire storefront of the World of Wonder (didn't they used to make Teddy Ruxpin?) into a huge display, featuring giant Piranha Plants from Super Mario Bros., and they had an old-school setup where you could play games ranging from an NES to a full-sized arcade cabinet, right there on full display to everyone passing by. It probably didn't hurt that some of the Nerdcore calendar girls took up residence here later and played Game Boys and quarter-eaters in their underwear.

Read more after the break, and be sure to take a spin through the huge gallery which shows off the more than 200 pieces in the show, and how crazy the whole scene became.

Gallery: i am 8-bit: 2008

Prices for pieces have definitely been climbing with the rising popularity of these shows. For instance, this Link vs. Ganon piece was going for two grand. Yowsa. Even these tiny (but awesome) Scott C. pieces were $175 bucks a pop, and we're thinking 8-bit could probably make a killing by doing limited print runs with some of these artists. We really wanted this Elevator Action piece, but it was already sold by the time the show began. Curses.

One cool exhibit/installation was this multi-screen Q*bert. Most of the younger crowd would walk by and go "Who's that guy?" but we have a special love for that little orange blob. These two Billy and Steve pieces got a lot of attention as well, and sometimes it seems like The King of Kong will never go away.

Anyhow, after a full evening of art, 8-bit tunes, and a couple of beers from sponsor Colt .45 (complete with artistic cans), we were ready to stumble out onto Hollywood Blvd. to try scrounging for change in the gutter to buy some of our favorite pieces. If you're in Los Angeles, the show runs until September 7th at 6650 Hollywood Blvd., and is definitely worth stopping by.

Tags: 8-bit, art, artwork, Computer-Jay, DJ-R-Rated, gallery, i-am-8-bit, Leeni, Nerdcore, old-school

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Drew @ Aug 15th 2008 3:38PM

the Colt .45's are cooler as guns. And what's that little liney thing coming from that dog's... oh nevermind.

playwhutyalike @ Aug 15th 2008 3:44PM

A lot of weird, freaky, art shit in this place. I like it.

Jorge Gonzalez @ Aug 15th 2008 3:48PM

As an average consumer, I thought it was a terribly planned event. It advertised its opening for 8pm, but they didn't start letting people in until 8:20p and although I was the 20th person in line waiting since 6:15pm, I didn't get in until just before 9:00pm.

Even though they mark your skin with an X during admission, it doesn't mean you can leave and go back in. I tried and their security instantly went into dickhead mode and started shoving me around unprovoked, acting as if was trying to loot some of the art.

What could've been an entirely enjoyable evening was marred by shoddy preparation and abysmal customer service. Who would've ever thought a gamer event would be fraught with the annoyances of trying to get into a night club?

SeventhWard @ Aug 15th 2008 3:54PM

Okay, maybe I don't feel so bad about missing it, afterall!

NextGenFriend @ Aug 15th 2008 5:10PM

Sheesh...I figured gamers and fine art would be a great mix...you know enlighten gamers who aren't too familiar with paints/sculptures/sketches, basically what Video Games Live did for the classical orchestra but somewhere along the way people started getting greedy...once gamers and now money whores...what should have been a great experience is nothing but another bullshit Hollywood stage show veiled as a geek event.

I'm glad I didn't attend the show...you couldn't pay me a million bucks to go to Hollywood Blvd voluntarily and I live 15 minutes away. Sorry you had a bad experience Jorge

SeventhWard @ Aug 15th 2008 3:52PM

My feelings are hurt, Joystiq. You've gotta start telling us about this kinda cool stuff in advance.

Unknown @ Aug 15th 2008 4:02PM

Not to be a real tool or anything, but:

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/19/i-am-8-bit-returns-with-a-new-show-in-los-angeles/

and

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/31/joystiq-exclusive-a-sneak-peek-at-the-upcoming-i-am-8-bit-show/

Time to read more often, broham.

SeventhWard @ Aug 15th 2008 4:17PM

Maybe you're right. I got owned.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 15th 2008 4:17PM

It's still going on until September 7th according to the article. There's still time! :)

Zorink @ Aug 15th 2008 3:54PM

lol at the guy in the window in #115
http://www.joystiq.com/photos/i-am-8-bit-2008/977784/

Zertoss @ Aug 15th 2008 3:58PM

Just about everything in the gallery made me smile. Especially the Earthworm Jim and Chrono Trigger pieces.

lol i am 16-bit

mcmahon_nathan @ Aug 15th 2008 4:23PM

I was there as well and I agree with Jorge. I was about 7th in line with my girlfriend and we just about left when we realized that they didn't plan the event too well. I was in the first group of people from the public allowed in and most of the art had already been sold so we weren't able to get any good pieces. The delay in getting in was ridiculous because the biggest "celebrity" I saw was fucking Adam Sessler. The art was this spectacular either but the free Mega Man 9 box art posters made it all worthwhile.

Kangstarr @ Aug 15th 2008 5:04PM

Adam Sessler and Celebrity does not compute

Edog Lost @ Aug 15th 2008 4:16PM

I really wanted to go, but when I showed up at 8:00 the line was all the way down to Selma.

The show will be up for a week or so, I'll go then.

Saria the Cat @ Aug 15th 2008 4:16PM

WHOA, this stuff is more than a little bit awesome! If only I was back home in LA. Thanks for sharing the coolness. I want a giant piranha plant in my apartment.

Kangstarr @ Aug 15th 2008 4:57PM

This has to be the coolest picture of Link ever. It would look great above my 42 inch plasma!

http://www.joystiq.com/photos/i-am-8-bit-2008/953319/full/

vvu001 @ Aug 15th 2008 5:20PM

i love those connecting earthworm jim prints.

Bigfoot @ Aug 15th 2008 5:36PM

rofl, I love this one.

http://www.joystiq.com/photos/i-am-8-bit-2008/971099/

Andrew @ Aug 15th 2008 6:33PM

Yeah I saw Adam Sessler there, he was wearing a wierd hat and had some girl slung on his arm, he is SHORT! I thought the show was pretty cool though

R-Rated @ Aug 15th 2008 6:54PM

YO.
Last night was off the chains! Even though some of u thought it was poorly planned. A lot thought really did go into that show. If you think this years space was too small, rewind back the clock to last year when it was at Gallery 1988 on Melrose. That place was half the size! Anyway, Colt 45 turns people into criminals. I recorded all the nights music on a recorder device that plugs into my ipod. By the end of the night, my ipod was stolen. If anyone knows the whereabouts of my ipod, please let me know. Losing it is one thing, but losing last night's recording is irreplaceable. Thanks to all who came out.
Peace,
- DJ R-Rated